Erdogan Promises to Help Ukraine Return Crimea

Turkey does not recognize the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and is jointly planning with Ukraine steps for its de-occupation. This was stated by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at a joint press conference in Ankara.

“Turkey did not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and is not going to do either,” Erdogan said. According to him, Russia violated international law in this matter.

“Mr President (of Turkey) supported the joint steps aimed at the de-occupation of Crimea. For this plan we will work together in the framework of international organizations on the basis of new international formats, including the format of “Geneva+” with the participation of the guarantors of the Budapest Memorandum, Turkey and Ukraine”, — quotes “Interfax” from the words of the President of Ukraine.

Poroshenko also invited Turkey to participate in the privatization of state-owned assets in Ukraine, which is scheduled for 2016.

Crimea and Sevastopol became part of Russia in March of 2014. The Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council, in the background of the political crisis and a change of power in Ukraine, adopted a Declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The vast majority of voters (96,77%), with a turnout of over 80%, voted for reunification with Russia. The Treaty on the adoption of new subjects into Russia was signed on 18th March 2014. Ukraine, the US, and the European Union refused to recognize the independence of Crimea and its reunification with Russia, and called the Peninsula “occupied” territory.